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First, a little housekeeping. I’m in a couple of spots today, so stop by if you get a chance. All comments this week at the various sites will be put in a drawing for a $10 Amazon (or Barnes and Noble or Book Depository) give card or book order. First, I’m doing an interview at author Pembroke Sinclair’s blog, talking about the Penton Legacy. And what I learned was REALLY the oldest thing in my fridge–and my ingredients for the perfect cocktail sauce. Just made some last night,in fact, to go with a pile of boiled shrimp. Yum! Second, today’s my day to blog at Paranormal Unbound, where I’m talking about my current read, a satiric play on zombie books, Apocalypse Cow. If you’re a fan of dry Brit humor a la Terry Pratchett or Simon R Green, it is a must-read. Share a favorite funny scene from your own reading!

Today for “Readers Write,” I’m welcoming guest reviewer Melliane of Between Dreams and Reality, who’s sharing a review of Red, the first book in Kate Serine’s Transplanted Tales series. It was released August 2, 2012 by Kensington.

Read on for Melliane’s review and a chance to win this book or your choice of another book featured on the blog this week.

ABOUT Red: “My name is Tess Little. But everyone calls me Red.” Once upon a time, a spell went awry, stranding Make Believe characters in the ordinary world. Since then, Tess “Red” Little—a/k/a Little Red Riding Hood—has worked as an Enforcer for the Chicago branch of the Fairytale Management Authority. But, consider yourself warned—she’s not just some waif with a basket of goodies. All grown up and with nothing to lose, a gun and combat boots is more her style. And Red’s new assignment threatens to be short on happily ever afters. Someone is murdering transplanted Tales in gruesome fashion. The list of fictional characters capable of such grisly acts is short and includes more than one of Red’s old flames. And if that wasn’t bad enough, there’s another complication, in the form of sexy, enigmatic Nate Grimm, the FMA’s lead detective and part-time Reaper. Used to following her own rules and living life on the edge, Red has managed to avoid taking on a partner until now. But Nate’s dark side makes him perfect for a case like this. That is, if she can trust him. Because if there’s one thing Red knows for sure, it’s that believing in the wrong person can have big, bad consequences.

Review by Melliane of Between Dreams and Reality

A SCENE I’D READ TWICE:

I think I would choose the scene where Red sees for the first time after so many years her former lover Seth. I was so impatient to see what would happen and what he would say. And I wasn’t disappointed. It’s a cute and intense scene as they can speak about their past and feelings.

I DIDN’T QUITE BUY(or believe, or I was annoyed by, or I wish the author hadn’t…):

I confess I was a little upset because I didn’t really know who all the tales characters were. And maybe for some, I would have loved to know a little more to be able to understand them.

THE WORLD:

I loved the world. It’s interesting to see how Kate Serine managed to have a world full of famous characters, a world mixed with humans who don’t know who they really are. But we also have some flash-backs about their past lives, places we know from the tales, or some we discover. They all need to live in secret and try to adapt in a world so different from theirs.

THE CHARACTERS:

I think you can understand that the characters are the most interesting part in the story. Each time a new one appears in the book we wonder who he/she really is and what is the tale he/she comes from. Their stories have the same basis but they’re also very different. I think it’s very difficult to rewrite a tale with characters we love as it’s difficult to have something more appealing. But Kate Serine managed it and it was amazing to see the ideas she had about all of them.

We discover Red and Nate, two very complex characters. Red is though, brave, and determined. It was fun to follow her and see how she would manage to investigate the murders. Nate is more mysterious and we’re quickly intrigued by him.

GENERAL THOUGHTS:

It was a really good first book and if you like tales, you’ll definitely have to try this book. So many stories, so many characters we love, it’s a wonderful mix. And more than that we have a great plot and I was curious to know who was behind all that. At the end, I can say I was surprised by the culprit, and it was well found. Red will lead us in her world, allowing us to discover her life and friends. Something bigger is coming and I’m curious to see how Kate Serine will resolve all this!

Thanks, Melliane!Melliane is a French blogger addicted to books and mainly Urban Fantasy. She reviews in French and English on her blog: Between Dreams and Reality.

Want a copy of Red? Leave a comment to be entered!

Interested in doing a guest review for Preternatura and telling us about a book you love?Email me and let me know. Reviews should be in a speculative fiction genre, and will include a link back to your website or blog.